Commercial Solar
A
commercial solar system is a solar power system that is used on a
business. It is in essence the same system that is found on a home, but
often times is a much larger system. The size of the solar system is
geared to the needs of the individual business. At times, the owner of a
complex may install a commercial solar electric system to power the
entire complex and charge each tenant a flat rate or prorated rate for
electrical consumption. In this case, the solar system may be paid for
by the tenants, rather than the owner of the building. Commercial solar
systems are often installed on college and university buildings, and
government buildings. These systems are not only installed on the
rooftops of the office buildings, but often times on top of parking
structures, which also provides added shading for cars.
Commercial Solar Air Conditioning Systems
Probably one
of the last things most people would think of when it comes to solar
energy is a Solar Powered Air Conditioner. Solar thermal energy equates
with heat, not cold. Since air conditioners are powered by electricity,
there are a few different approaches to powering a
solar air conditioner.
If you have a solar electric system, you can power it the same
way you always have, through the electrical system. Therefore you don’t
have to replace an existing air conditioner to achieve solar air
conditioning. Or you can purchase an actual
solar powered air conditioner system. There are two basic types of
solar air conditioners. One way is to actually install an absorption
chiller unit, which uses thermal energy and converts heat into cold
through a heat exchanger. Another route to go would be to buy a Direct
Current (DC) powered solar air conditioner system. One of these AC
systems is manufactured by Securusair, which operates on a 48 volt DC
solar system. This particular system has four 200 watt standard solar
panels mounted on the roof. The output of these panels is fed into four
12 volt deep cycle batteries, which in turn powers the air conditioning
unit. This unit puts out 18,000 BTU of cooling power.
Solar Thermal Systems
This type of
solar system does not contain photovoltaic cells as most solar systems
do. It does however utilize solar energy to produce the end result.
Actually, solar thermal systems have been used for a much longer time
than solar electric systems. Solar thermal systems date back as far as
the 7th century B.C. The earliest use of solar energy
included the use of glass and mirrors to magnify the sun’s rays. The
Greek scientist, Archimedes set Roman wooden ships on fire using bronze
shields to focus the sunlight to create an intense heat. The Romans used
solar thermal systems to heat their bath houses the first few centuries
A.D. The Clift Dwellers
built their homes facing the South to capture solar heat in winter
months.
Most solar
hot water systems utilize some type of flat plate solar collector. The
material is typically painted black to absorb as much of the solar heat
as possible. These systems are often used to heat swimming pools. There
are also solar hot water heaters that heat water for use inside the
house. Uses of this water would include bathing, washing dishes, and
washing clothes.